Car accidents in Japan...super sucky!!

Train of thought....

So I got into a minor car accident yesterday. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being a blood and guts, death and jaws of life accident and 1 being a small scratch on the rear bumper...this was a 2.5...I wrecked the front of a rental car and blew out the guys tail-light.

Okay so backing up a bit...I was driving (ironically) to the mitsubishi dealer, where MY car was getting its transmission repaired. While changing lanes, the car in front of me slammed on his breaks...because the car in front of him suddenly stopped. So I clipped him.

Back home, this would have been a "let's exchange info, take the car to the shop, get it fixed...don't even bother with insurance" type of thing. But here...I don't speak the language..so other than profuse Gomanasai (i'm sorry)...I'm completely a 2 year old. So, had the pleasure of being escorted by the police to the police station where I had to hang out in the interrogation room for almost an hour. Waiting, for God knows what...but waiting. They took my Gaijin card, my license, my international driver's license, made copies and told me to wait. I might as well have been in a jail cell. And I kept waiting for them to turn the hot bright lights on me, and blow smoke in my face. Truth is, at the end of the day, the police were very kind. Considering how clueless and how little i understood of what was going on around me.

Anyhow, my principal showed up with an English teacher, to "bail" me out. That sucks on many levels, simply because I had to have my boss come get me at the police station. And because the gossip will be hideous tomorrow. Regardless, this is where the Japanese customs "which I'm totally unclear about" come into play. Turns out, I have to go to the Man who I hit's house and bring him a present and offer my apologies. Then again today, I had to do the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not totally insincere and uncaring about his well-being...but What the fuck??? How many presents do I have to get him? Why do I have to do this? I mean...as is I will be paying for his damaged car...and for any sort of health therapy he may need to endure. Why must I also buy him presents? Maybe this makes me a bit of an insincere person...but I guess I'm more confused than anything else.

Marie Curie once said, "there is nothing to be feared, only understood." I really really wish I could understand everything that I have gone thru and will go thru for the next week involving this little accident.